How to Prevent Common Winter Plumbing Problems

This time of year brings so much excitement – precious trick-or-treaters, loved ones congregated around Thanksgiving tables, and the enchantment of the holidays. But with the lovely comes the ugly. The winter weather and bitter temperatures can cause a whole mess of plumbing problems. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is here with some preventative measures to help you lower your chance of encountering these common winter plumbing problems.

Frozen Pipes

Your pipes becoming frozen is a common plumbing problem for Raleigh. This typically happens when high water pressure through the main water pipe merges with freezing temperatures. To help avoid this plumbing problem, leave a faucet slightly open to let water continually flow through. If you do find a frozen pipe, disable the main water supply to prevent the pipe from breaking. Try warming the frozen area of the pipe with heated water and if that doesn’t solve the problem, give Service Experts a call and we’ll send one of our expert plumbers out to look at the problem.

Broken Water Line

An opening or break in your water piping could cause serious damage to your home. Water pipe leaks or breaks are commonly because of a frozen garden hose. If you forget to disconnect your hose from your water spout after a freeze, the ice inside can force pressure to build up in your home’s water pipes and cause a leak or a break. To avoid this problem, ensure your garden hoses are drained and disconnected before the freezing temperatures arrive.

Failing Hot Water Systems

If your hot water heater is not functioning as well as expected, confirm the temperature is set high enough. If you have a gas water heater, make sure the pilot light is still lit. If everything is set correctly and lit properly, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning so we can send out a professional plumber to find out what’s going on. To avert this issue altogether, ensure you are getting your annual hot water heater maintenance and it’s better if you service it well before cold temperatures set in. Call 919-578-4329 to be sure you don’t get left without warm water this winter.